Overview

According to the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the value and volume of natural/organic beef sales during the first quarter of 2009 declined from retail sales during the first quarter of 2008. However, the market share of natural/organic beef continued to trend upward, rising from 2.5 percent in 2007 to its current high of 2.7 percent in terms of value and from 1.4 percent in 2007 to a current high of 1.8 percent in terms of volume. The price of natural/organic beef averaged $5.49 in the first quarter of 2009, with consumers paying a premium of $1.91.

As demand for organic products increased, more land in the United States was converted to organic production. As of 2008, the United States had 4.1 million acres used for organic production. Of that amount, 1.6 million acres were planted to organic crops and 1.8 million acres were organic pastureland/rangeland. Texas accounted for 13 percent of U.S. organic pasture, followed by (in order): California, Montana, New Mexico and South Dakota. The total value of organic livestock and poultry sales in 2008 was $316.5 million, and the total value of organic livestock and poultry product sales that year was $906.2 million.   (2008 Organic Production Survey)


The number of beef cows certified organic grew 428 percent between 1997 and 2002, from 4,429 head to 23,384 head. Growth in certified organic beef cows slowed between 2002 and 2005, but by 2005 36,113 beef cows were certified organic. As of December 31, 2008, 43,782 beef cows were certified organic. The top five states producing certified organic beef cows in 2008 and the total number produced that year were (in order):

1. California - 5,081 head
2. Wyoming - 4,615 head
3. Wisconsin - 2,943 head
4. Idaho - 2,447 head
5. South Dakota - 2,391 head

May 2009 ... Organic Beef

Marketing

• 2008 Organic Production Survey, National Ag Statistics Service (NASS), USDA, 2010.
• Alternative Farming Systems Information Center, USDA - Identifies resources about sustainable food systems and practices, including current updates on regulatory and marketing issues.
  
• Attracting Consumers with Locally Grown Products, Food Processing Center, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2001 - This research study summarizes results of a survey of 500 households in Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin. The primary grocery shopper of each household was surveyed for attitudes and opinions on locally grown and produced food, including organic and all-natural food and meat purchasing behaviors.
• Biofuels send organic meat prices soaring, Natural Foods Merchandiser, 2008.
• Economic Issues with Natural and Organic Beef, Kansas State University, 2002 - Provides an overview of both natural and organic beef and why some consumers may prefer one of those over conventionally raised beef.
  
• Fourth National Organic Farmers' Survey: Sustaining Organic Farms in a Changing Organic Marketplace (Executive Summary), Organic Farming Research Foundation, 2004.
• Fourth National Organic Farmers' Survey: Sustaining Organic Farms in a Changing Organic Marketplace (Full Report), Organic Farming Research Foundation, 2004 - OFRF's National Organic Farmers' Surveys have collected data about organic farmers and farming for the years 1993, 1995, 1997 and 2001.
  
• Marginal Value of Quality Attributes for Natural and Organic Beef, Kansas State University, 2002 - Consumers are increasingly demanding natural beef products. Producers have attempted to meet this demand through organized alliances. This paper looks at the value of that investment.
• Market Trends, Organic Trade Association.
  
• Organic Agriculture, Economic Research Service (ERS), USDA - This site provides a wealth of statistics related to organic products.
• Organic Agriculture, Iowa State University - Information from production to marketing, including resources for certification compliance.
• Organic Production, ERS, USDA.
  

Processing/Manufacturing

• American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP) - This association represents more than 1,800 small- and medium-sized meat, poultry and food businesses.
• Labeling Guidance, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA - This site includes procedures, policies, a listing of ingredients, packaging materials and other related links.
• North American Meat Processors Association (NAMP) - This nonprofit trade association provides information and technical services to the meat-processing industry.
• Packing House Byproducts, Iowa State University, 2003 - Large packing plants have found markets for the "last squeal" of the pig. How can smaller operations compete without the quantity of animals? This paper looks at small and medium-size beef and pork slaughterhouses and the alternatives for the major by-product categories.
• U.S. Beef Packing Industry Profile, Iowa State University, 2003 - The beef sector of the U.S. agricultural economy is dominated by four major packers who control more than 83 percent of the federal slaughtering. A niche exists for smaller single plants that compete in market segments not occupied by major packers.

Production

• Accredited Certifying Agents, National Organic Program, Ag Marketing Service (AMS), USDA - A total of 54 certifying agents are now accredited in the United States.
• Adding Value to Beef Production, Iowa State University Extension Value-Added Agriculture - This Web site gives readers an overview of various beef production alternatives.
  
• Cattle Production: Considerations for Pasture-Based Beef and Dairy Producers, Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA), NCAT, 2006 - At this site, producers are walked through a sustainable beef operation.
  
• Glossary of Organic Terms, ERS, USDA.
• An Introduction to Organic Beef Production, Saskatchewan Agriculture & Food, Canada.
  
• National Organic Program, AMS, USDA - This site lists the national standards on organic agricultural production and handling, certification procedures and accreditation.
• Natural and Organic Beef, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.
• Organic Agriculture: 2007, 2007 Census of Agriculture, NASS, USDA, 2009.
• Organic Beef and Dairy Production: an introductory guide, Soil Association, United Kingdom, 2007 - Provides a perspective on organic beef production in another country.
• Organic Livestock Feed Suppliers, Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA), National Center for Appropriate Technology - This resource list helps organic livestock producers locate sources of organic formulated feed rations or feed ingredients.
• Organic Livestock: What You Need To Know, ATTRA, National Center for Appropriate Technology, 2005 - This PowerPoint presentation summarizes organic livestock production requirements and cites relevant sections of the National Organic Program Standards.
• Organic, Natural and Grass-fed Beef: Profitability and Constraints to Production in the Midwestern U.S., Iowa State University, 2006 - This paper defines organic, natural and grass-fed beef as well as looks at the markets for each.
• Organic Production, West Virginia University, 2000 - West Virginia crop and livestock research using organic methods.
• Sample Costs for an Organic Cow-Calf Operation, University of California Cooperative Extension, 2005 - This study can be used to make production decisions, determine potential returns, prepare budgets and evaluate production loans.
• Transitioning to Organic Beef Production, Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service, updated 2008.

Businesses/Case Studies

• Dakota Beef, Howard, South Dakota - This natural and organic beef operation stresses vertical coordination.
  
• Half Circle Ranch, Belgrade, Montana - This ranch is certified organic by the Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA). Cattle are raised naturally--no growth stimulants, biological shots or other potentially harmful shots are administered. If a medical shot becomes necessary at any time during an animal's life, Half Circle Ranch will sell this animal at a local auction as commercial livestock and thereby remove it from the ranch.
• Larsons Greenfarms, Brodhead, Wisconsin - This operation raises the majority of its own organic feedstuffs but also purchases organic feedstuffs from area producers.
• Mesquite Organic Foods, Aurora, Colorado - This company provides certified, grass-fed organic beef.
• Organic Beef, The New American Farmer, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE),USDA - Includes eight organic beef operations located in Alabama, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin.
• Organic Valley Family of Farms, LaFarge, Wisconsin - This group of farms claims to be the largest organic farmer-owned cooperative in the United States with 750 farm families in 25 states. It markets beef and other meats under its Valley's™ Organic Meats brand.
• Prather Ranch, Macdoel, California - This ranch has been certified organic by Quality Assurance International. Cattle are raised without added hormones, antibiotics or animal-sourced proteins. The beef is processed in a private, USDA-inspected facility on the ranch.

Links checked in October 2009.